Phonograph.



R. THOMAS.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION man MAR. 15. 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

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ja 'fmazdmmasi R. THOMAS.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION man MAR. 15. m1.

Patenmd Mar. 19, 1918.

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FIG

REINHOLD THOMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINO IS.

PHONOGRAPH.

Specification'oiLetters'Patent. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application filed March 15, 1917. Serial No. 154,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, REINHOLD Trroams, a citizen of the United States, residing at ing a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of phonograph of the type in which the tone arm and amplifier are associated together asa unitary structure,-and mounted for swinging together over the record. It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section axial with respect to the tone arm and amplifier of a structure embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section at the line, 22, on Fig. 1. p

Fig. 3' is a section at the line, 3-3, on Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is a detail. section at the line, 4- -4, on Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5-5, on' Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail planview of a locking washer employed in the pivot joint.

Fig. 7 is a plan view with some parts broken away showing the parts at position for setting the tripping device preparatory to playing.

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation, full size, of a check device for limiting the weight with which its stylus is pressed on the record.

Fig. 9 is a section at the line, 9-9, on

- tation about a vertical axis upon the cabi-,

net to A, and rotated by a motor, (not shown also supported. upon the cabinet top below the same. 0 represents a record upon -the record carrier. D is a block mounted upon the cabinet top, A, having a vertical socket to receive the spindle, 1, of a pivot support, 1, on which the unitary structure comprising the" sound box, tone arm and amplifier is pivotally mounted for swinging to carry the sound box toward andfrom the record. Said unitary structure is pivoted to the pivot support, 1, by means of a bracket, 2, which is secured u on the lower side of the amplifier, 3, said racket having a vertically-depending flange or lip, 2*, which engages a vertical slot in the top of the bracket of the pivot support, 1, being secured therein by a pivot pm, 4. The bracket, 2, has at its rear end a downwardly-extending nose, 2", provided on its forward side with a recess, 2, for engaging a spring, 5, which is securedto the pivot support, 1,- and adapted to fit said recess said spring having rounded bends, 5 and 5", to adapt the nose rojection, 2, to be crowded around said bends for engaging and disengaging the spring as the entire device com rising the tone arm, amplifier.

and sound ox is swung vertically about, its pivot, carrying the sound box toward and from the record. The engagement of said nose terminal, 2 below the bend, 5", tha t; is wlth a spring engaged in the recess, 22-

serves to lock the device at the elevated position of the sound boX away fromthe record and out oflayingposition;- '(the position shown in otted line in Fig. 1);

and at the position shown in full line insaid figure, with the nose terminal,"2 just above-the upper bend, 5., of the 'spfing; the sound box is in thelowered position for en gagement of the stylus with the record, and

the entire device is free to oscillate verti cally to the limited extent necessary forthe proper cooperation with the record. it will be understood that in the last mentioned or full-line position, the unitary. structure comprisin amplifier 1s overbalanced at the sound-boxcarrying end,,so that it operates with adequate weight for pressing the stylus upon the record.

For the purpose of modulating the the sound-box, tone' arm and weight with which the stylus .is pressed u on the record to, the point of. greatest e ciency orbest result, as that may beascertained in each instrument, or according to the judgment of the inspector, there is provided a spring arm, 5, -mounted fixedly with respect to the pivot support, 1, and projecting rearward in the path of the nose, 2?, which carries a means of engaging under the spring for ,checking the upward movement of the rear end of the device, thus opposing the resiliency of the spring to the down-weight of the opposite end carrying the sound box.

As illustrated, and is convenient on con struction, this spring, 5, is made in one p ece... with the spring catch, 5", the latter being struck up out ofthe former, as seen clearly in Fig. 3, leaving an aperture, 5", through which the nose, 2 extends for engaging the s ring, 5*, in the recess, 2, of the pose, as above described. .This spring, 5, is made I rigid: with the pivot support, 1, by being to set the rib, 13,

, stem. ,A

made as a radial arm extending from an ular-hubor collar, 5, which is lodged n a recess in the downwardlyfacing shoulder of the head of the pivotsupport, 1, said radial arm extending out from the recess through a notch, 1, in the flange remaining of said shoulder around said recess, as seen in Fig. 3.

For carrying the check device to engage under the projectingsprinig, 5, a rigid stem, 2 is extended downward y from the nose, 2", and reduced at 2, to form a shoulder below which there. is mounted rotatably on said stem, a collar, 13, which at the upper. side is cutaway at'two opposite segments, leaving a middle segmental rib, 13, projecting upward. from'the main body of the collar, the shoulders which are formed by' said segmental rabbets being rounded as seen in Figs. 8 and 9 for bearing against the under side of the spring, 5, as seen'in Fig. 1. The rib, 13, is adapted to pass through the aperture,

5, in'the spring, 5, when the collar is turned on the stem longitudinally coincident with the said aperture; but when the collar is turned 90 degrees from that position, said rib, 13, extends across theaperture, so that the top of the rib'instead of the curved shoulder, 13*, engages under the spring, 5. A disk, 13, is riveted onto the end of the stem, 2 forming a head for the same, above which a friction disk, 13, is interposed between said head and the lower side of the collar, 13, said parts being snugly held together and pressed up against the shoulder, 2 when the said disk, 13", is riveted in place, thus causing the collar to be frictlonally held at. either position to which it may e ad usted by turning about the pm, 13', is set into the lower side of the collar, 13, which is in the slot, 13

against. the

which extends for 90 degrees the heador washer, 13, thus limiting the ad ustab1l1 ty of the collar, 13, to the necessary 90 degrees, permitting it to turnlfrom the posiit may be greater in the case of the hill-andvalley type of record than in the case of the 'zi'g-izag t pe, and this is accomplished'by the adjustab e collar, 13, cooperating with the apertured spring, 5, as above described; for it will be understood that the collar, 13, will be turned to the position to permit the rib, 13 to pass through the aperture, 5 of the spring, in playing with a hill-and-valley record and to the position at which the rib below the spring when playin with 'a zi zag record. The drawings 5 g means for adapting the sound-box to cooperate with the two types of record, because this particular feature constitutes no part of the present invention, 'and any means for this purpose may be employed.

For the purpose of automatically terminating the rotation of the record and stopping'the horizontal swinging movement of the tone-arm and sound box over the record at the conclusion of the playing, the following structure is provided:.A trip finger, 7 projecting as a lever arm from a hub or collar, 8, is mounted dn'the pivot support, 1, so as to be rotatable relatively thereto about the 'same vertical axis, and is frictionally. engaged with said pivot support so as to be rotated therewith as Well as to be .capable of rotating relatively thereto. De-

vices for such frictional pivotal mounting comprise the said hub or collar, apertured so as to be passed onto and fit upon the spindle, 1, and pressed up toward the downwardly-facing shoulder of the head of the pivot support, 1, a fiber washer,

8, centrally 0. not show 9, being preferably interposed between said hub, .8, and'said shoulder of the head; a disk spring, 10, which is centrally apertured and passed onto the spindle, 1, up under side of the collar, 8, an inverted 'cup housing, ertured and passed onto the spindle, 1*, up against the under side of the spring disk, 10, and-with its flange inclosing said dlsk, the washer, 9, and the hub or collar, 8, except that said flange is notchedat its upper edge to inter-engage said lever: arm or tri .11, .centrally ap finger, 7, which extends ofi from said 11 90 extends across the slot so as to'be stopped or collar, 8, out through said notch. All the above-mentioned parts are held in place,

pressed up toward the shoulder of the head of the pivot support, 1, by means of a locking washer, 12, which has a radial notch, 12, leading into its central aperture whrch isdimensioned for engaging the inner C11- cumference in an annu ar groove, 1, formed in the spindle, 1, so that when said washer is passed into place in said groove, as seen in Fig. 4, the said parts are held in place and the spring disk, 10, is compressed to proper tension for producing adequate frictional engagement of the hub or collar, 8, with the pivot support, 1, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The locking washer,

12, is preferably provided on its lower face with a recess, 12, around the central aperture, said recess having the -unreduced di ameter of the spindle, 1, of the pivot support, 1, so that the reaction of the spring, 10, looks the locking washer in position on the spindle, 1. Upon the upper side of thecabinet top, A, there is mounted a plate, 15,

upon which there is pivoted at 16 a trigger, 1

, having a finger,'17, which extends out past. the margin of the record support 'under thesame so as to'project in the path of the trip finger, 7, as the latter swings with 'the pivot support, 1, about the vertical axis ,of the latter. The trigger, 17, has a lockto the brake terminal 18, for engagement with said tooth when the brake terminal is pressed against the flange, B, for holding the record carrier at rest. Ajspring, 21,

reacting upon the brake member, 18, operates to swing the brake terminal against the flange to engage the record carrier. The brake member has an operating handle, 21, which projects beyond the margin of the record carrier for manipulation of the brake by the operator. The mode of use and operation of the brake' and trip device described is as follows?" When a record is i placed upon the record carrierfor playing, v the sound box is swung over to a position at which the stylus is at the innermost or final course of the final groove of the rec- 'ord,-that is, at the point. at which the playing will be: ended,- and while'it is in this position, the trip finger, 7, is turned about the spindle, 1, of the pivot support, 1,-1mtil the endof the finger is in contact with the trigger, 17,the brake, of course, being at position for holding the record carrier at rest. The sound box being now swung to carry the stylus to the position for commencing the playing, the brake will be released by swinging the brake handle, 21, to

the dotted line position, Fig. 7, at which it will be locked by the engagement of the tooth, 17 and the notch, 18. As the playing proceeds to the end, the trip finger, 7, will be carried into contact with the trigger, 17, and the frictional engagement of said trip finger with the pivot support, 1, is suf fieient to turn the trigger about its pivot disengaging the tooth, 17 from the notch,

18, and releasing the brake whose spring,

21, will immediatelyswing it into engagement with the flange, B of the record care D rier, and halt the rotation of the latter.

The unitarystructure comprlslng. the sound box, tone arm and amplifier which is mounted for swinging over the record together, is characterized by the following features requiring some description. The

tone arm is tapered from the smaller end at which the sound box is connected, Widening toward the opposite end which extends within the amplifier, 3, said amplifier being i also tapered widening from the end adjacent to the wider end of the tone arm back toward the smaller end of the tone arm, encompassing the latter, being additionally flared at the discharge end around the conduit back of the sound box. The wider end of the tone arm and the end of the amplifier are only slightly different in diameter, so that only a small annular space would remain around the larger end of the tone arm inside the amplifier, but for the fact that said largerend of the tone arm is provided with oppositely positioned wide anddeep 1 notches, 26, a-flording free communication; for the vibrations of air in the tone arm to be communicated to the air in the amplifier outside of the tone arm. Additional apertures, 26', may be provided in the tone arm for further transmission of the vibrations from the tone arm to the amplifier. The mouth of the-tone arm, 26, at its wider end -withinjthe narrower end of the amplifier is bridged by a curved bar, 26, extending in a diametric zone, preferably concaved, as

shown, towardthe smaller end of the tone arm, and-provided with a central, aperture,

26, thus'partly reflecting andv partly trans mitting thelvibra'tions. Encompassing and facing concavely toward the larger end of the tone armand the encompassing smaller end of the amplifier and extending outside the latter, there-is an approximately hemispherical reflector, 27,- which is supported in the position stated, co-.axial with the tone arm andarnplifier, by a bow, 28, wl'ifise ends are secured to'the amplifier, and to its middle part the reflector is secured at its cen structing the annular gap between them;

ter. The bow,28, at its end serves to space the tone arm from the encompassing mouth of the amplifier without materially ob- The tone arm is otherwise held and positioned co-axially within the amplifier solely by a sound post, 29, which extends from the amplifier to the tone arm at the lower. side of the latter near the discharge mouth of the amplifier, but preferably a little back of the flaring portion of the latter. For modulatin the sound and cutting ofi minor 'an provided a, multiple-apertured disk, 30, mounted upon the tone arm near the com- .mencement of the flaring portion of the amplifier forward of i the sound post. This disk is supported onl on the tone arm, and

although its circum erenoe is near to the inner surface of the amplifier,-it is without contact therewith.

The combined effect of the mounting of the tone arm within the amplifier as described, with support thereon substantially onl by the sound post, and with communication therewith as described through the adjacent larger end of the tone-arm and smaller end of the amplifier, and the provision of the reflector. embracing said adjacent ends for reflecting a. portion of the vibrations back outside the amplifier toward the sound box, and a portion back through the amplifier, and of the multiple-apertured modulating disk, 30, is to cause the delivery j yielding y engaging the catch nose when the sound conduit is swun in the direction for carrying the sound x away from the record.

2. In aphonograph, in combination with a tone arm adapted for mounting of the sound box at one end, an amplifier or horn within which the tone arm extends, having its discharge end opening in the direction of the end of the tone arm at which the sound box is carried; means for positionin the tone arm within the amplifier comprislng a sound-post near the discharge end of the amplifier, the tone armbeing at that end otherwise unattached to the amplifier.

.3. In a phonograph, in combination with a tone arm adapted for mounting of the sound box at one end, an amplifier or horn within which the tone arm extends, having interferant vibration, there is.

its discharge end opening in the direction of the end of the tone arm at which the sound box is carried 5 means for positioning the lone arm withm the amplifier, and a multiple-apertured disk mounted on the tone arm and positioned in the mouth of the amplifier out of contact with the latter.

4. In a phonograph, in combination with a tone arm adapted for mounting of the sound box at one end, an amplifier or horn within which the tone arm extends,-having its discharge end opening in the direction'of the end of the tone arm at'which the sound box is carried; means for positioning the tone arm within the amplifier comprisin a sound-postnear the discharge end of %he amplifier, the tone arm being at that end otherwise unattachedto the amplifier, and a multiple-apertured disk mounted on the tone arm and positioned in the mouth of the amplifier out'of contact with the latter.

5. In a phonograph, in combination, a tapering tone arm and a sound box carried at the smaller end thereof; a tapering amplifier encompassing the tone arm from the larger end of the latter toward the smaller end, the larger end of the tone arm being only slightly less in diameter than the smaller end of the amplifier adjacent there ing deeply-extended notches affording lateral communication from the tone arm to the amplifier, and having a bridge-piece extend ing diametrically across its open wider end between said notches, said bridge-piece having anaperture axial with respect to the tone arm, and a reflector fixed with respectto, and said larger end of the tone arm havto the tone arm and amplifier having its mouth encompassing the adjacent ends".of

the tone arm and amplifier.

6. In a phonograph, in combination with the sound box and sound conduit by which it is carried, pivoted for moving the sound I box toward and from the record; a check device carried by the sound conduit, and a spring on the pivot support positionedfor encounter of the check device in the downward-swinging movement of the sound-box toward the record, said check device com prising a part which makes the encounter with the spring provided with two shoulders for such encounter, and movable to position either of said shoulders at will for encounter with the spring. i

In a phonograph in combination with a sound box, and a sound conduit by which it is carried, pivoted for moving the sound box toward and from therecord; 'a pivot support for the sound conduit on which the latter is over-balanced downward at thesound-box carrying end; a check device carried by the sound conduit behind the pivot;

a spring carried by the pivot-support for, encounter with saidcheck device, the check device comprising a stem which extends tioned for encounter with the under side of from the sound conduit past the spring, and the spring. a member carried,\by said stem below the In testimony whereof,I have hereunto set 10 spring, provided with two shoulders vertimy hand at Chicago, this 14th day of Feb- 5, cally spaced apart from each other, said ruary, 1917.

shouldered part being rotatable on the stem to cause one shoulder or the other to be posi- REINHOLD THOMAS.

Oopjee 0! thin patent may be obtaieefl tor five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patents;

- Washington, D. G. 

